Kalanchoe plant named ‘Bordeaux’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Kalanchoe  cultivar named ‘Bordeaux’ is disclosed, characterized by attractive dusky red-burgundy foliage with attractive variable dentate leaf margins. The new cultivar freely branches, enabling increased and faster propagation. The new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ exhibits robust and rapid growth. The freely branching characteristic exhibited by the new cultivar, in combination with the robust, moderately rapid growth of the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’, results in attractive clustering plants at an early age, thereby enhancing production intervals. The new cultivar has proven landscape and full sun tolerant, qualities not displayed by many other comparable  Kalanchoes  known to the Inventor. The new variety is an  Kalanchoe , part of the Crassulaceae complex that includes  Aeonium, Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Sedum  and others.  Kalanchoe  is a popular genus, typically produced for the floriculture industry, as well as for uses as container plants for the patio, or as landscape plants.

Latin name of the genus and species: Kalanchoe hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘BORDEAUX’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the unpatented seedparent, Kalanchoe ‘PR15’ with the pollen parent an unpatented,proprietary Kalanchoe hybrid referred to as Kalanchoe ‘PS02’. The crosspollination was made in February 2012 in Vista, Calif., at a commercialgreenhouse. The new cultivar Bordeaux’ was discovered by the inventor,Renee O'Connell in September, 2012 in Vista, Calif., at a commercialgreenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ was first performedin Vista, Calif., at a commercial greenhouse, by terminal vegetativecuttings in October 2012. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ has since producedmultiple generations and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BORDEAUX’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BORDEAUX’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoecultivar:

-   -   1. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ displays unique, attractive dusky        red-burgundy foliage.    -   2. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ exhibits robust and moderately fast        growth, in combination with unique foliage coloration.    -   3. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ branches freely, quickly forming full        canopies.    -   4. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ is easily and rapidly propagated due to        quick rooting of cuttings, robust growth, and prolific        branching.    -   5. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ produces leaves with variably dentate        margins, and occasionally produces cristate stems.    -   6. Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ has proven to be landscape and full sun        tolerant.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ are similar to the seed parentKalanchoe ‘PR15’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plantsof the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ display early and profuse branching, notdisplayed by the seed parent Kalanchoe ‘PR15’. The new cultivar‘Bordeaux’ forms plants with full canopies with many branches, incontrast to the sparser canopy of Kalanchoe ‘PR15’. In addition, the newcultivar ‘Bordeaux’ has an unusual and distinct red-burgundy foliagecolor that intensifies in full sun, as compared to the gray-greenfoliage with reddish tinges of the seed parent Kalanchoe ‘PR15’. The newcultivar ‘Bordeaux’ exhibits faster and more robust growth than isexhibited by Kalanchoe ‘PR15’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ are similar to the pollen parentKalanchoe ‘PS02’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plantsof the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ display early and profuse branching,whereas Kalanchoe ‘PS02’ produces scant branching. The new cultivar hasattractive dusky red-burgundy foliage as compared to the reddish greenfoliage of Kalanchoe ‘PS02’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ can be compared to the unnamed unpatentedcommercial variety of Kalanchoe pumila. Plants of the Kalanchoe pumilaare similar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’displays a red-burgundy foliage color that is not displayed by theKalanchoe pumila. Additionally, the new cultivar exhibits more robustand rapid growth than does the Kalanchoe pumila. The new cultivar‘Bordeaux’ has proven full sun tolerant in the landscape as compared toKalanchoe pumila, which prefers shade. ‘Bordeaux’ displays resistance topowdery mildew, not displayed by the Kalanchoe pumila.

The new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ can be compared to the unpatented commercialvariety Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldianaare similar to plants of the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, the new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’displays a red-burgundy foliage color that is not displayed by theKalanchoe blossfeldiana. The new cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ grows more robustlyand more rapidly than the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. In addition, plantsof the cultivar ‘Bordeaux’ are more resistant to the Rhizoctonia stemrot than the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. Plants of the cultivar ‘Bordeaux’have proven to be much more tolerant of full sun in the landscape thanthe Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 illustrate in fullcolor typical plants of ‘BORDEAUX’ grown in a greenhouse in Vista,Calif. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andequipment. While the colors in these photographs may display variancesof color as compared to the living cultivar, due to LRV (lightreflectance value), they are as accurate as possible using conventionalphotographic techniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differslightly from the color values cited in the botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant. The followingphotographs depict plants grown under natural light conditions of2500-4000 foot-candles. Temperatures ranged from −1° C. to 29° C. nightand day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants.

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color the side view of a typical plant ofKalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’ grown in full sun (approximately 9000 to 10000 footcandles) in Vista, Calif.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color the occasional cristate stem that canbe produced by Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’.

FIG. 3 illustrates in full color the variable dentate leaf margins ofthe new cultivar Kalanchoe ‘Bordeaux’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the PantoneProcess Color System Guide, Pantone CYMK, 2014, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘Bordeaux’ plants in a commercialgreenhouse in Vista, Calif. Temperatures ranged from −1° C. to 29° C.night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe hybrid ‘BORDEAUX’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at approximately 24° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 4 months from a cutting.-   Container size of the plant described: 15 cm.-   Growth habit: Upright branching sub-shrub.-   Height: Approximately 25 cm to top of highest leaf. Approximately    33 cm. to top of highest inflorescence.-   Plant spread: Approximately 37 cm. Plant comprised of 14 stems.-   Growth rate: Moderately fast.-   Branching characteristics: Freely branching from an early age; and    apical pinching produces very full canopies.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Irregular, opposite.        -   Average length.—Approximately 7 to 8 cm. Longest 9.5 cm.        -   Average width.—3.5 cm.        -   Widest width.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Width at base.—0.4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Irregularly dentate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Quantity of leaves per plant.—Approximately 125.-   Color: The closest color for the foliage is S 323-1 Pantone, but the    foliage is a darker shade of the color (no exact match exists on the    color chart).    -   -   Young foliage, upper side, near apex.—Near S 323-1 Pantone.        -   Young foliage, upper side, inward from apex.—Near S 323-2            Pantone.        -   Young foliage upper side, near base.—Near S 306-6 Pantone,            with an overlay of S 137-5 Pantone. S 163-1 Pantone is the            closest in hue to the burgundy tint exhibited by ‘Bordeaux’,            but the color chip is less saturated than the plant.        -   Young foliage, upper side, basal margin.—Near S 160-5            Pantone.        -   Young foliage, under side, near apex.—Near S 323-1 Pantone.        -   Young foliage, under side, mid leaf.—Near S 293-4 Pantone.        -   Young foliage, under side, near apex.—Near S 323-1 Pantone.        -   Young foliage, under side, mid leaf.—Near S 293-4 Pantone.        -   Young foliage, under side, marginal tint.—Near S 158-6            Pantone.        -   Mature foliage, upper side, near apex.—Near S 323-1 Pantone.        -   Mature foliage, upper side, near base.—Near S 134-7 Pantone.        -   Mature foliage, under side, near apex.—Near S 323-1 Pantone.        -   Mature foliage, under side, near base.—Near S 134-7 Pantone.-   Venation: There is no visual appearance of venation.    Indistinguishable from leaf blade.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: March and April.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Erect, lax, flat-topped panicle.-   Rate of flower opening: 1 flower opens every 2-3 days.-   Flower longevity on plant: 3-5 days, depending upon ambient    temperatures.-   Quantity of flowers: 98.    -   -   Total inflorescence size.—Height: Approximately 24 cm.            Width: Approximately 11 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Arrangement.—4-merous.        -   Size.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5            cm at widest point. Lobe Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Lobe            width: Approximately 1.4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Campanulate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Color: The outer surface of petal is often divided longitudinally    into lobes of two colors; a pink color and an apricot color.    -   -   When opening.—Petal color, outer surface, apricot color of            petal: Near S 90-7. Petal color, outer surface, pink color            of petal: Near S 129-4. Inner surface not visible until            fully opened.        -   Fully opened.—Outer surface: Near S 142-4 for one half of            petal; near S 125-5 for other half of petal. Inner surface:            Near S 148-6. Color Changes when Aging: Near S 97-9.-   Bud: (near opening):    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near S 76-5 Pantone.-   Sepals:    -   -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Outer: Near S 308-5 Pantone with green striations of            S 106 Pantone, resulting in the appearance of S 103-4            Pantone. Inner: Near S 308-4 Pantone.        -   Pedicels.—Length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Width: Approximately            0.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Near S            85-3 Pantone.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens: (Androecium).    -   -   Number.—Average 8.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near S 310-6.        -   Anther length.—0.1 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near S 312-5 Pantone.        -   Anther shape.—Ovate-oblong.        -   Pollen color.—Near S 18-5 Pantone.-   Pistil: (Gynoecium).    -   -   Number.—Average 4.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Style color.—Near S 304-4 Pantone.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: Near S 49-7 Pantone. Ovary            Color: Near S 295-3 Pantone.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Typical to Genus. Minute, approximately 1 mm dry    seeds. Colored brown, too small to accurately measure with color    chart.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    0° C. to at least 32° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Some resistance to powdery mildew. Neither    resistance or susceptibility to other normal diseases and pests of    Kalanchoe has been observed.-   Drought tolerance: Tolerates at least 3 weeks of high temperatures    without supplemental water, showing no serious damage to plant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plantnamed ‘BORDEAUX’ as herein illustrated and described.